Sewing: Learn How to Sew a Button

The first step in do-it-yourself (DIY) clothing repairs begins with learning how to sew a button.  Today we’ll teach you how to sew on a button with our easy step by step instructions.

Sewing: How to Sew a Button

The supplies are minimal; all you will need is the button, some thread, a needle and a pair of scissors.

1.  To begin, locate the area on the clothing where the button will be placed. If replacing a lost button on a shirt, chances are that you will still be able to see the holes from the previous button.

2.  After cutting about 24 inches of thread, insert into the eye of the sewing needle. You will need to double the thread and then tie it into a knot at the end. This will prevent the thread from slipping through the eye.

3.  Locate the area on the fabric where the button will be placed and insert the needle under the fabric.

4.  Carefully grab hold of the protruding needle on the front side of the fabric. While securing the button with one hand, use the other hand to direct the needle through one of the holes in the button. Pull the needle and thread up and through the button hole.

5.  Make a small stitch and insert the needle through another hole in the button.

6.  While still holding the button with one hand, take the hand that was holding the needle and reach underneath the fabric, gently gripping the protruding needle on the underside of the fabric.

7.  Direct the needle and thread back down through the second hole.

8.  Slide a pin between the button and the top stitch that you made on the top of the button. Pull thread tight to secure the pin.

Continue to repeat steps above, guiding the needle and thread through the button holes until there are a minimum of three stitches in each hole. On the final stitch, slide the needle out and underneath the button, but avoid piercing the fabric. End with a double knot on the backside of the material. Cut off any excess thread and remove the pin from the fabric.

Your button is now attached and your article of clothing is ready to wear. Now that you have successfully learned how to sew a button, you are well on your way to creating fashionable and inexpensive home-made clothing (or at least making sewing repairs by yourself!).

Vintage buttons photo by queen puff puff.

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